Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant

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demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
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A decision made on 5 December 2014:

Decision Reference: MD-HA-2014-0069
Decision Summary Title :	Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant		Date of Decision Summary:	4 December 2014
Decision Summary Author:	Executive Officer Home Affairs		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	n/a
Written Report Title :	Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant		Date of Written Report:	4 December 2014
Written Report Author:	Executive Officer Home Affairs		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Introduction of an Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant in Jersey. Report and Proposition.
Decision(s): The Minister decided to lodge a Report and Proposition requesting the States to endorse the decision of the Council of Ministers to support the introduction of an Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant in Jersey and to endorse their decision that the Minister for Home Affairs should fulfil the role of Political Representative and Chairman of the Steering Group.
Reason(s) for Decision: The Covenant aims to bring military and civilian communities together and to acknowledge the sacrifice that members of the armed forces community have made and redress the disadvantages that they face.
Resource Implications: Any additional manpower requirement will be met from within existing resources. There will be the opportunity for the Island to apply for grants from the £30 million Community Covenant Grant Scheme in the UK.
Action required: The Executive Officer, Home Affairs, to request the Greffier of the States to arrange for the attached Report and Proposition to be lodged ‘au Greffe’ for consideration by the States on 20 January 2015.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Home Affairs
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant

PROPOSITION

ARMED FORCES COVENANT AND COMMUNITY COVENANT

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion 

to endorse the decision of the Council of Ministers to support the introduction of an Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant in Jersey (as set out in the Appendix) and to agree that the Minister for Home Affairs should be responsible for fulfilling the role of ‘Political Representative’ and Chairman of the Steering Group to be established under the Covenant.

MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS

REPORT

In the United Kingdom, the Armed Forces Covenant sets out the relationship between the nation, the state and the armed forces. It recognises that the nation has a moral obligation to members of the armed forces and their families and it establishes how they should expect to be treated.

The Covenant exists to redress the disadvantages that the armed forces community faces in comparison to other citizens and recognises the sacrifices that they have made. More recently, Community Covenants are being signed to help to bring military and civilian communities together.

Community Covenants complement, at a local level, the Armed Forces Covenant. The aim is to encourage local communities to support the service community in their area and promote understanding and awareness among the public of issues affecting the armed forces community.

The Community Covenant aims to:

Nurture understanding and awareness of issues affecting the armed forces community
Recognise and remember the sacrifices faced by the armed forces community
Encourage activities which help to integrate the armed forces community into local life
Encourage the armed forces community to help support the wider community

It is not intended that the scheme will be identical in all local communities. The nature of the support will be determined by both need and capacity.

The draft Community Covenant between the States of Jersey; representatives of the charitable and voluntary sectors; the civilian community of the Island of Jersey; and the armed forces community in the Island of Jersey, is attached. This provides further information about the principles, objectives and undertakings of the scheme.

The former Minister for Home Affairs took a report to the Council of Ministers in June 2014, at the request of the Chief Minister, to introduce the Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant to Jersey. The Council of Ministers agreed that it was prepared to support the introduction of an Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant to Jersey and delegated to the Minister for Home Affairs responsibility to fulfil the role of ‘Political Representative’ and Chairman of the Steering Group to be established under section 4 of the Scheme.

The Steering Group will review support to the Armed Forces and the community in the areas of employment of reserves; health; social security; housing; income tax; education and Parish relationships.

The community covenant will be signed by His Excellency The Lieutenant Governor, on behalf of the Military Community; the Bailiff, on behalf of the people of Jersey; the Minister for Home Affairs, on behalf of the Government of Jersey; a representative from the Armed Forces; the Chairman of the Royal British Legion and the Chairman of the Association of Jersey Charities.

Financial and Manpower implications

Members will note that the Covenant provides for the appointment of a Forces Welfare Officer. This post will be funded by the Ministry of Defence, through Veterans UK. The Covenant also references the funding of a Cadet and Military Support Officer. This Officer is already in post, so there will be no additional manpower implications. The remaining manpower implications (membership of the Steering Group and secretarial support thereto) can be met from within existing resources.

The Community Covenant in the UK includes a £30 million Community Covenant Grant Scheme. Details of how to bid and the qualifying criteria can be found at www.gov.uk/community-covenant-grant-scheme. It is understood that the Channel Islands are eligible to apply for grants from this scheme. There will be no additional financial implications arising from the adoption of this Report and Proposition.

ARMED FORCES COVENANT

AND

COMMUNITY COVENANT

BETWEEN

The

Government of Jersey

The Armed Forces Community of Jersey

The Civil Community of the Island Of Jersey

Representatives of the Charitable and Voluntary Sectors in Jersey,

We, the undersigned, agree to work and act together to honour The Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant.

Signatories

His Excellency, The Lieutenant – Governor, On behalf of the Military Community

The Bailiff On Behalf of the People of Jersey

The Minister for Home Affairs (on behalf of the Government of Jersey)

The Armed Forces Representative

The Chairman of the Royal British Legion

The Chairman of the Association of Jersey Charities

SECTION 1: PARTICIPANTS

1.1 This Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant is made between:

Government of Jersey.

And

The serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their families working and residing in Jersey

The Charitable and Voluntary Sector of Jersey

And

The Civil Community of Jersey

SECTION 2: PRINCIPLES OF THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT AND COMMUNITY COVENANT

2.1 An Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between the Civilian Community of Jersey and its local Armed Forces Community. It is intended to articulate the moral obligation between the Island, the Government of Jersey and the Armed Forces locally.

2.2 The purpose of this Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant is to encourage support for the Armed Forces Community working and residing in Jersey and to recognise and remember the sacrifices made by members of this Armed Forces Community. This includes in-Service and ex-Service personnel, their families and widow(er)s in Jersey.

2.3 For the Government and Civil Community of Jersey and partner organisations, the Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant presents an opportunity to bring their knowledge, experience and expertise to bear on the provision of help and advice to members of the Armed Forces Community. It also presents an opportunity to build upon existing good work on other initiatives.

2.4 For the Armed Forces Community, the Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant encourage the integration of service life into civilian life and encourage members of the Armed Forces Community to help their local island community.

SECTION 3: OBJECTIVES AND GENERAL INTENTIONS

Aims of the Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant

3.1 The Armed Forces Covenant and Community Covenant defines the enduring, general principles that should govern the relationship between the Civil Community of Jersey, the Government of Jersey and the Armed Forces Community.

3.2 It aims to encourage all parties within the island community to offer support to the local Armed Forces Community and make it easier for service personnel, families and veterans to access the help and support available from statutory providers, MOD and from the Charitable and Voluntary Sector. These organisations already work together in partnership at local level.

3.3 The scheme is intended to be a two-way arrangement and the Armed Forces Community are encouraged to do as much as they can to support their island community and promote activity which integrates the service community into island life.

SECTION 4: Measures

4.1 Support the Appointment of the Forces Welfare Officer (funded by the MOD through Veterans UK)

Principal Accountabilities:

Management of War Pensions on behalf of the Veterans UK

Overseeing the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Ensure equitable medical treatment for veterans and service who live in Jersey

Signpost to veterans and service personnel to other service charities such as SSAFA and the British Legion

Support the Minister for Home Affairs

4.2 Fund a Cadet and Military Support Officer (CMSO).

Principal Accountabilities:

Support all Jersey Cadet Organisations

Act as the Tri Service POC for service personnel visiting Jersey

Assist the Officers of the States by helping organise public events

Support the Minister for Home Affairs

4.3 Minister for Home Affairs

Principal Accountabilities:

Set up a steering group under the chairmanship of the Home Affairs Minister and undertake to review support to the Armed Forces and the community in the following areas:

Employment of Reserves

Health

Social Security

Housing

Income Tax

Education

Parish Relationships

The Steering Group should consist of:

Minister for Home Affairs-Chairperson (on behalf of the Government of Jersey)

Group Secretary: Home Affairs Department Representative

Bailiff’s Chief Officer

Military Representative: OC Jersey Fd Sqn RE (M).

Lieutenant Governor’s Representative: CMSO

Social Security Representative

Health Representative

Sailors, Soldiers, Air Force Association (SSAFA) Representative

British Legion Representative

Parish Constables Representative

The Steering Group should meet at least bi-annually and may co-opt other parties and form sub-groups as deemed necessary by the Chairperson.

CONTACT PERSONNEL AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS

MOD DCDS (Pers&Trg) Covenant Team

Email address: covenant-mailbox@mod.uk

Address: DCDS (Pers) Covenant Team

Zone D, 6th Floor

Ministry of Defence

Main Building

Whitehall

London

SW1A 2HB

In-Service representative(s)

Contact Name: Major Nick Spratley

Title: HM Forces Support and Welfare Officer (Veterans UK)

Telephone: 01534 447401

Address: Social Security Department, St Helier, Jersey, JE4 8PE

Contact Name: Major Danny Wright

Title: Cadet and Military Support Officer

Telephone: 01534 441703

Address: Government House, Jersey JE2 7GH

Home Affairs Department:

Contact Name: Minister for Home Affairs

Title: Home Affairs Department

Telephone: 01534 445507

Address: 23 Hill Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 4UA

Charities

Contact Name: Royal British Legion

Title:

Telephone: 01534 723469

Address: 2-4 Great Union Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 3YD

Contact Name: Association of Jersey Charities

Title:

Telephone 01534 840138

Address: PO Box 356, St Helier, Jersey, JE4 9YZ

THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT

An Enduring Covenant Between

Civil Community of Jersey

The Government of Jersey

– and –

All those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of

The Crown

And their Families

The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole island has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.

Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the community and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.